Social Media can be hard to handle. What do I say? How often should I post? What platforms should I be on? Slow down, breathe, and start with these 5 simple steps. The rest will come with time!
Use the platform that works for you
If you sell something beautiful, you should be on Instagram. If you create services that should be shared, be on Facebook. If you sell to other businesses, build your LinkedIn network. “But the pros say I should be on….” Who cares what everyone else is doing? Do what works for your brand and your audience. Step outside your comfort zone to try new things for 90 days at a time. If you are not gaining momentum or you find it hard to connect with, leave it. You may be saying, “But everyone else is doing XYZ”...Don’t cause yourself more stress. Just do you!
Be predictable
If you post on Monday mornings with a weekend debriefing, your customers will come to expect it from you and even look for it. The one time you miss, they will call you out. Building trust and relationship takes time and effort. You want those who buy from you to be your biggest advertisement. It costs 5x more to acquire new customers than to retain current ones. Plan time to interact with your customers on a regular basis. It doesn’t need to be every day. Pick a pattern that works for you and run with it.
Be unpredictable
While it is true that you should build a rapport with your customers to where they know what to expect, you also need to have a few surprises in your pocket. If you usually post tips or quotes, pop on with a live video every once in awhile. If you typically post sale items using a picture, use creative wording in a graphic instead. Do something out of the ordinary every 2-3 months to catch your audience off guard. They will love you for it.
Tell Your Story
Social Media will not work for you if you are doing it to sell. I am sorry, but it is the truth. People can smell a sales pitch a mile away. If the only thing you post on your social accounts is what you want them to buy, you will have a flat social media presence. No eye-catching graphics or fancy videos will fix that. You need to create a feeling around your product/service. Tell your audience why you are in the business you are in. 98% of the time, there is a beautiful story with great intentions. Convey that! People follow ideas, causes, stories...not products. The products are the result of the story. Show personality and be vulnerable. That is what is important to those who will buy from you.
Keep Your Chin Up
Most social media marketing doesn’t directly tie to dollars. It can seem like you are doing all this work for nothing. The ROI is invisible, what is the use? DON’T THINK LIKE THAT! It takes time and effort to build a business, and sometimes a business doesn’t turn a profit for years. Then one day, BAM! It clicks or something strikes a chord with customers and you are an ‘overnight success’ that has been in business for 10 years. Social media is very similar. It will take time to build a following of a true community, but when you do, they will follow you anywhere and buy pretty much anything from you. Build the relationships and do the work, the payoff will come. Trust the process!